When Jesus received the message, he said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” He accordingly remained where he was for two days. After the messenger was sent, Lazarus grew rapidly worse. The sisters counted the days and hours that must intervene between the sending of the message and the arrival of Jesus to their aid. As the time approached when they should expect him, they anxiously watched the travelers who appeared in the distance, hoping to discover the form of Jesus. All their efforts for the recovery of their brother were in vain, and they felt that he must die unless divine help interposed to save him. Their constant prayer was, Oh! that Jesus would come! He could save our beloved brother! {2SP 360.2}

Da Jesus fik dette budskab, sagde han: "Denne sygdom er ikke til døden, men for Guds herligheds skyld, for at Guds Søn skal herliggøres ved den." (Joh 11,4) Han forblev derfor endnu to dage, hvor han var. Efter at de havde sendt bud til Jesus, tiltog Lazarus' sygdom hurtig. Søstrene talte de dage og timer, som måtte gå, før Jesus kunne komme dem til hjælp. Eftersom tiden nærmede sig, da de kunne vente ham, gav de nøje agt på de rejsende, som viste sig i det fjerne, i håb om at se Jesu skikkelse, Alle deres bestræbelser for at hjælpe sin broder var forgæves, og de vidste, at han måtte dø, dersom han ikke fik guddommelig hjælp og frelse. De bad uafladelig: (361) O, at Jesus ville komme! han kunne frelse vor broder.